We often gain a professional lead from family, friends, the venue’s preferred vendor list, your wedding planner, and from wedding planning portals that pre-qualify vendors. Anyone can pay for Google AD words or get on Craig’s List. You want vendors with “good reputation".

Questions You Can Often Find From Their Website:

The number of years in business. - Look for five or more.

How many weddings or events have they done. - Twenty to fifty or more.

Are they available on the date you require? - Some have calendars on their websites.

For a wedding venue. - The number of guests the site will accommodate.

Your Guest List Number & Your Budget

#1. Your First Goal Is To Set Your Wedding Budget & The Style Wedding You Desire. Prices vary from one area to another. Set your budget for the entire wedding and reception. Divide by percentages (from the chart below), so you understand what you will be spending on each service. Often a parent or relative may want to donate toward a budget or provide a portion.

To Reserve A Date You Must Deposit A Portion of The FEE. Often Half The Fee.

Service Decision Making Process Approx. Percentage of The Budget. Honeymoon, Dresses & Men's Attire is not part of this budget. We find couples spend according to their personal feelings on what is important to them.

#1. The Venue Without Catering 30% to 40% - venue only

#2. The Venue+Catering+Rentals 40% to 60% - different priced menus

#3. Outside Catering 20% to 25%- various menus

#4. Clothing 8% - dress, tux or suits

#5 Florist 5% to 15% - bid or various packages

#6 Cakes or desserts 5% - often priced on slice

#7 Party Rentals & Linens 5% to 10% - individual items

#8. Photographer 5% - various packages

#9. Video 5% - various packages

#10. Wedding Officiant 2% - various packages

#11. Extras/ gifts, beauty, tax/tips 5%

#12. Alcohol 7%

#13 Invitations 2% to 4%

Dresses and Party Rental Fees can really move your budget upward. Caution in this area is recommended.

Determine your number of guests. This is a combination number from both sets of parents and your guest list, plus yourselves and the wedding attendants. Once this number is locked in, try to keep it the same.

#3. Set your approximate date for venues. Some venues book a year or more out.

Find The Venue/Vendor Questions You Desire Below

Before you interview the vendors, you need to know the date of the wedding. They often have several price packages. It is best to have a written contract with any service. This especially includes your best friend or relative donating their services.

It is important to outline in the contract exactly what they are giving you, and have the details written out. Review each contract for details on dates, times, location address, overtime fees, who exactly will work the wedding, the fees, deposits to hold the date.

Selecting Your Wedding Venue Is First (linked below). Because they may have a recommended list of vendors/party services you are required to use.

Process Of Hiring For All Services

Moving through the list above, create a list of three FINAL companies you want to ask for bids or to interview. That is right, this could be up to 30 appointments and interviews. You may have criteria to look for with specific services [ie] on-site makeup, free engagement session with a photographer, company that donates to charity, vegan or gluten-free and no overtime fees. Please include those in your searches and questions.

When You Gain A Good Personal Referral For A Wedding Professional - follow through with the same system for each vendor. Whether you do the meetings in person, by Skype or Hangouts, there are six factors that enter into each interview:

Did they return your calls within a reasonable time? Vendors days off are Monday & Tuesday

Do your personalities click?

Do they have packages or menus that meet your budget?

Do you like their end product and way they do business?

Did they LISTEN and give you time to discuss the details of what you want?

Were they pushy about signing on the dotted line, or reply to each of your questions and give you details outlining a commitment to their business?

Take the names and go to your Google Cursor - type in “complaints against “. Then go to Yelp.com and seek reviews. The fact you previously saw them working at another event and the web searches will help you decide if you want to call for an interview. You may have met them first at a bridal show and were given an incentive or won a booth prize. If they do not meet the requirements you have, then do not collect that prize. (Remember when you win a prize or any kind, the value percentage must show on your tax records... Usually 50%.)

Set appointments to interview three similar vendors before making your decision to hire and contract. When possible bring another person with you and both take notes - compare after the interview. Get your questions answered and …. never make up your mind on the first meeting, no matter what the incentive seems to be. Negotiate for more time to make up your mind.